Public Masses to Resume on Monday

Latest update: Thursday, June 4

Dear Parishioners,

“You cannot pray at home like you can at church, where there is a great multitude; where exclamations are cried out to God as from one great heart, and where there is something more: the unions of minds, the accord of souls, the bond of charity, the prayers of priests.” —St. John Chrysostom

We are pleased to announce that we will be able to resume public Masses and Devotions in our church once again. Beginning these next couple of weekends we have been certified for reopening in Phase 2 of the Archdiocesan Plan.This plan allows us to have 20% of our capacity, so as to be in compliance with expected health measures and adequate social distancing. During this time, face masks/coverings are still recommended and a proper social distancing of 6 feet is required.

For this first weekend of our public Sunday Masses, we are pleased to invite those children receiving their First Holy Communion and their families as well as those receiving the Sacraments of Initiation. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Spots are open for the general public beginning with daily Masses on Monday, June 8th.

As a reminder, the Archbishop of Chicago has still granted a dispensation to the faithful from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass during this time.

With this in mind, the live streaming of our liturgies, which we know has been a blessing to many near and far, will continue. We hope to offer the livestream of our main Sunday Masses and Liturgy of the Hours even after things return to normal.

For the time being any parish activities and groups, i.e. altar serving, will not reconvene until we are given further instruction by the Archdiocese.

For upcoming weekday and Sunday Masses, as we try to maintain the recommended 20%, a reservation system has been set up which allows us to see the number of attendees that will be at each Mass. Attendees do not have to give their personal information and may use a pseudonym to protect their privacy when they sign up for their desired Mass time.

We know this has been a difficult time to be away from church, but your perseverance and patience, as well as your resolve to live your faith, has been an inspiration to all of us.

This Sunday, the doors of our church will once again be open to the public. We have received certification to be open for private prayer in Phase 1 of the Archdiocesan Plan for Reopening.

The priests, brothers, and parish staff have worked hard in training, and preparing with many volunteers, to allow our church to remain open for extended hours. Our church is not a parish without you. We are eager to welcome you home.

Beginning this Sunday, May 24th, the church will be open daily for private prayer from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., except during live-stream Masses and Divine Office. Please check the schedule for Mass times.

To be in compliance with the current safety guidelines provided by the State of Illinois and the Archdiocese of Chicago, the following guidelines must be observed:

• A limit of 10 people will be allowed in the church at a time
• Face masks/covering are required
• Proper social distancing of 6 feet

At all times an usher will be available to assist with the flow into the church. We ask you to be mindful of others who come to pray and to keep your prayer time to 20 minutes if you know there are people waiting to enter the church.

This first phase of reopening of our church also allows for confessions as well as baptisms, weddings, and funerals with a limit of 10 people. The public celebration of Sunday Masses and Weekday Masses is not permitted at this time.

For confession appointments, sick calls, and any other need please contact the Parish Office at 312.243.7373 or at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

We will keep you updated as we learn more about when and how we will be able to celebrate public Masses. Thank you for your heroic patience, devout understanding, and charity as we work to have our church fully open.

Sunday, May 17

Dear Parishioners,

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” —2 Cor 4:8-9.

We look forward to the reopening of our churches and the celebration of Sacraments in accord with the guidelines recently published by the Archdiocese of Chicago (see guidelines here).

Beginning Sunday, May 24, our church will be open for private prayer daily from 9 am until 7 pm. This first phase of reopening of our church also allows for confessions, baptisms, weddings, and funerals with a limit of 10 people. To be in conformity with the current health measures, we would ask that during the live-streamed Masses the faithful remain outside until we are given permission for public Masses to resume. Please check the schedule for Mass times.

When public Masses resume in the beginning of June, in the second phase of the Archdiocesan plan, attendance will begin at a smaller capacity level. Priority for Mass attendance will be given to those families awaiting the reception of the First Communion of their child, and those receiving Sacraments of Initiation. Further instruction will be forthcoming.

During this difficult time, our priests have worked to reach every one of you in our parishioner database. Our lists may be out-of-date or for some reason we may not have been able to reach you. If you have not heard from us and if you have any needs or prayer intentions, please reach out to us by phone at 312-243-7373 or email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap a harvest if we do not lose heart.” —Galatians 6:9

Your Pastor,
Father Joshua Caswell, SJC

Sunday, May 10th, 2020

Dear Parishioners,

The Archdiocese of Chicago is in discussion with the appropriate authorities on a two-phase process for the reopening of our parishes to the public.

It is likely that, soon, our churches will be opened for private prayer. Further information is forthcoming. Concurrently, the faithful again will have access to sacraments such as Baptism, Confession, and Weddings, as long as these gatherings abide by the proper health measures, including limiting attendance at each gathering to the number recommended by the CDC.

The Illinois Bishops have been in conversation with Governor Pritzker urging that numerical limitations on gatherings be replaced with social distancing standards allowing a percentage of the capacity that each church can hold. This measure would allow the faithful to attend public Masses and would still ensure the safety of those gathered. This second phase of the reopening process is expected to begin by the end of May.

In spite of challenges and restrictions, we are working to restore the Sacraments to our parishioners as quickly and safely as possible. We will abide by the instructions of our local ordinary, understanding that “the salvation of souls must always be the supreme law in the Church” (Canon 1752).

Thank you for your heroic patience, devout understanding, and charity during this difficult time. “One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. That I may see the delight of the Lord, and may visit his temple.” (Ps 26:4)

If you have needs or prayer requests please contact us at 312-243-7373 or by email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

In Christ,
Father Joshua Caswell, SJC
Pastor and Superior

Staying Connected

During this time, if you have any needs or prayer requests, please do not hesitate to contact us by email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or by phone at 312-243-7373.

If there is a sacramental emergency for the sick or the dying, please call 312-243-7373 and wait for the special emergency number in the recording.